Have you ever heard of periodical cicadas? These little creatures have a fascinating life story! They spend most of their lives underground, waiting for the perfect moment to come out and say hello to the world. Some cicadas stay hidden for 17 years, while others wait for 13 years. Isn’t that amazing?
Cicadas have a special way of knowing when it’s time to emerge from the ground. They pay attention to the temperature of the soil. When the soil gets warm enough, it’s like a signal for them to come out and explore. You might even see tiny holes in the ground where cicadas have started to dig their way up.
Sometimes, cicadas will crawl up to the surface and take a quick peek around. If they decide it’s not the right time yet, they can go back down into their cozy underground homes. Imagine looking into one of those little holes and seeing a cicada face peeking back at you—what a funny sight!
Staying underground for so many years helps cicadas avoid predators and survive until they are ready to come out and enjoy the world. When they finally emerge, they have a big party! They sing loudly, find friends, and start the next generation of cicadas.
Next time you hear the buzzing sound of cicadas, remember their incredible journey and how long they waited to join us above ground. Nature is full of wonders, and cicadas are a fantastic example of patience and timing!
Soil Temperature Experiment: Find a small patch of soil in your garden or a park. Use a thermometer to measure the soil temperature at different times of the day. Record your findings in a notebook. Discuss with your friends or family why you think cicadas wait for the soil to reach a certain temperature before coming out. How does the temperature change throughout the day, and what might that mean for cicadas?
Cicada Craft: Create your own cicada using craft materials like paper, markers, and glue. Think about the different stages of a cicada’s life. Can you make a cicada that looks like it’s just emerged from its underground home? Share your creation with your class and explain what you learned about cicadas’ life cycles.
Sound Detective: Go outside and listen for the buzzing sound of cicadas. Try to find where the sound is coming from. Can you spot any cicadas on trees or plants? Write down or draw what you see and hear. Discuss with your classmates why cicadas make such loud sounds and how they use these sounds to communicate with each other.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
“Okay, this is amazing to me! These periodical cicadas have been underground for either 17 or 13 years, and they’ve been waiting for the exact right moment to emerge. One of the environmental cues that the cicada uses to determine if it’s time to come up is the soil temperature. You might notice little holes that the cicadas have dug in advance, allowing them to crawl up, peek around, and check if the time is right. If it’s not time yet, they can crawl back down. I looked into one of the holes and saw a cicada face—it was quite amusing!”
